CREW CALLS FOR GOV. BLAGOJEVICH’S RESIGNATION

9 Dec 2008 // Washington, D.C. - Given the charges outlined against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in the criminal complaint made public today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (“CREW”) calls on the governor to resign.

CREW executive director Melanie Sloan stated, “Gov. Blagojevich apparently has long been selling his power and authority to the highest bidder. Now that he has been arrested for his ignominious conduct, the governor should resign immediately.” Sloan continued, “The need for Gov. Blagojevich’s resignation is all the more urgent given his efforts to sell the U.S. Senate seat recently vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Clearly, given the circumstances, the governor should have no role in filling the seat, yet while he remains in office, the decision is his to make. In fact, given the wide scope of his alleged misconduct, his remaining in office makes a mockery of the Illinois government. If he won’t resign, the Illinois legislature should begin impeachment proceedings posthaste.”

***

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a non-profit legal watchdog group dedicated to holding public officials accountable for their actions. For more information, please visit www.citizensforethics.org or contact Naomi Seligman at 202.408.5565/nseligman@citizensforethics.org.

###